My name is Emma Brannigan.

Just as my relationship progress hits 99%, Jake Sterling convinces me to sleep with him.

The next instant, the system's sharp warning rings out. "Emma, Jake's affection level for you has fallen from 99% to 60%! He's clearly unhappy with your performance."

I spiral into self-doubt and try every possible thing to improve myself.

One day, I overhear Jake bragging to his friends.

"Emma still doesn't realize that I can control her progress however I want.

"It's exactly like training a dog. When she does well, I raise her score as a reward, and when she slips up, I lower it to push her to improve.

"The first time she slept with me, I wasn't satisfied, so I dropped her progress to 60%.

"I bet she's already thinking about how to do even better for me next time!"

Laughter echoed from inside the private lounge. I lingered outside the door, feeling as if I had stepped into an ice cellar.

Only three days ago, I had been anticipating my long-awaited victory. Jake Sterling's affection level for me had reached 99%. Just one final move, and I could succeed in capturing his heart completely.

That night, Jake held me in his arms, his voice low and husky. "You're all I want, Ms. Emma Brannigan."

He had always claimed that only physical intimacy could make love complete. I nodded and let him take the lead.

With our bond having grown this close, I had believed that I could finally win him over and return to my own world.

Unfortunately, reality came crashing down on me with a bitter sting.

By the time everything ended, Jake's affection level for me had fallen to 60%. His affection score for me had just made it over the line.

I had no idea how things spiraled out of control so fast. I blamed myself, thinking my performance had disappointed him.

It took me a while to realize that it had all been part of Jake's calculated plan to manipulate me.

The private lounge resounded with laughter once more. I could hear Jake's friends' teasing comments.

"Jake really is a master when it comes to manipulating women. With an edge like that, keeping Emma in line must be easy."

"You're right."

Jake smirked arrogantly. "These transmigrators will do absolutely anything to push their progress to 100%.

"Take this time as an example—I couldn't stand her tacky white lingerie, so I deducted a few points from her score. Next time, she'll be sure to wear black stockings and do everything to win me over."

"Wow, that's brilliant! Who even comes up with something like this? You're amazing, Jake!"

"To be honest, I'm the reason behind his cleverness." The young woman beside Jake blinked coquettishly. "I taught him everything he knows. To fully dominate a woman, you need to break her emotionally and make her doubt herself.

"When she's about to give in, you offer just a hint of affection. That's how Jake was able to keep everything entirely under his control."

"You're quite the little schemer, aren't you?" Jake teased, affectionately tapping her forehead.

Jake had spoken to me about Dakota Vaughn before. Her every movement was elegant, and her eyes shone with undeniable allure. She was a well-known hostess at this nightclub.

The people around them started cheering.

"Well, well, well, Jake, it looks like you've got quite the luck with the ladies!"

"What's so great about Emma? She's still so inexperienced."

Jake lifted Dakota onto his lap, his fingers gliding across her skin. "Being with Dakota is the ultimate experience."

With a teasing chuckle, Dakota leaned in and lightly punched his chest. "Don't lie to me! If what you said were true, why haven't you left Emma? Am I not enough for you?"

"I need both a dutiful wife and an obedient plaything," Jake declared boldly. "After all, Emma's been trying to win me over for a long time. I can't help but feel a little sorry for her."

His eyes darkened with longing as he stared at Dakota. "But if we're talking about real attraction, I still prefer a little enchantress like you."

The two of them held each other tightly, drawing cheers and whistles from the crowd.

"Jake, you're pushing things too far. Aren't you afraid that Emma might walk away?"

"That's impossible," Jake said confidently. "Every time she thinks about giving up, I just raise her progress level to 99%. With only 1% left, how could she ever let go?

"I'll just keep her waiting and wanting. That way, she'll always stay under my command."

A suffocating weight pressed against my chest.

Jake was right. If it meant raising my progress to 100%, I was certainly ready to do anything.

I wanted nothing but to go home.

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only two months to live. It was then that the system sent me an invitation.

As long as I completed the mission in this world, I could return to reality and regain my health. I agreed without hesitation.

Like a parched traveler discovering an oasis, I threw myself entirely into the conquest. As long as it could increase Jake's affection for me, I was willing to set aside my pride and become the woman he wanted.

Over the past three years, Jake's affection level for me had constantly risen and fallen. Every time it dropped, I would replay every moment in my mind, searching for where I might have gone wrong. I addressed each flaw, examining them one by one.

Whenever my progress rose again, it proved I had done the right thing. By following this method, I became Jake's ideal girlfriend. Before long, my score reached 99%.

This time was no different. As long as I perfected the art of pleasing Jake in bed, I was convinced I could win back his love.

I threw myself entirely into this pursuit. I watched adult films, read erotic stories, and even bought research books.

Some of my recent studies included "A Complete Guide to Physical Intimacy", "The Intimacy Files", and "An Introduction to Human Desire". I approached the study of human intimacy and desire with the mindset of a dedicated researcher.

Still, I knew that learning theory alone wouldn't suffice. With this in mind, I decided to visit the nightclub to observe how men and women interacted. But as I passed a private lounge, I caught Jake's boastful remarks.

Although my original goal had been to master the art of flirtation, my intentions had now changed.

Wiping the tears from my face, I summoned the system for the first time in a long while. "System, I want to go home. Please help me terminate this mission."

After what I had just witnessed, the bitter reality finally sank in. With Jake, I would never succeed. I was chasing the carrot he kept dangling in front of me.

Instead of staying here and letting him continue to toy with me, I would rather go back and spend the last two months of my life with my parents.

But the moment the system heard my decision, its shrill voice cut through the air. "Terminate this mission? Are you serious? You're the top performer in this batch of transmigrators!"

I was stunned. "Top performer?"

"That's right! I've been counting on you to complete this mission so I can finally claim my bonus and retire! If you quit, how am I ever supposed to retire?"

"Wait, I still don't get it." I opened the status panel and double-checked the numbers. "Jake's affection level for me is only 60% right now. With a score this low, how could I possibly be number one?"

The system let out a snort. "Who says affection levels determine rankings? That's an old-fashioned method from the previous systems. There's no scientific basis for it at all.

"Each mission carries its own difficulty level. Some people start with an affection level of 90%, while others begin in the negatives. It would obviously be unfair to judge success solely by reaching 100% affection.

"Because of this, the new generation of systems measures performance by the range of affection fluctuations. The larger the fluctuation, the stronger your influence over the other person.

"Emma, Jake's affection level for you has been swinging back and forth like a pendulum. It shows just how much you're on his mind. He's probably uncertain about what to do next.

"Now that's the mark of true success!"

I was stunned by the system's words. Even so, I understood its meaning. With Jake having the power to adjust my score, my numbers fluctuated wildly.

He had planned to manipulate me like a pawn, but his approach ended up perfectly matching the system's new standards. Because of this, I took first place among the other contenders.

Thanks to this unexpected turn of events, I was rescued from a dead end.

Seeing my expression soften, the system hurriedly explained, "Emma, each 1% change in affection level gives you one point. Achieving 2,000 points marks a successful conquest, while 5,000 points will win you a ten-million-dollar cash prize! We can split it right down the middle.

"You're just 666 points away from 5,000! Are you seriously going to pass up this golden opportunity?"

"Wait, doesn't that mean that I've already completed my mission? Why didn't you inform me that I could go back to reality and get my health back?" I asked warily.

The system grew embarrassed. "Well… I was hoping to earn that bonus. With your talent, you shot straight to the top of the leaderboard in such a short time. Which system wouldn't be tempted? As long as you put in just a little more effort, earning another 666 points would be a breeze for you!"

A warmth spread through my chest. Amid the surge of emotion, I forced myself to calm down. "Seventy–thirty. I take seventy, you take thirty. Agree, and I’ll keep playing."

"H-How could you—"

"You had better choose your words carefully. If you hadn’t deliberately kept this from me, I’d have gone home long ago. Why would I stay here just to be humiliated?"

The system babbled incoherently. After what felt like an eternity, it finally nodded and shouted toward the sky, "Looks like I ran into a real trickster!"

…

The bathroom was filled with rising steam.

For three years, I had lived every day in constant anxiety, trying every possible way to please Jake.

But now that I knew I was heading home soon, I could truly relax for the first time.

Water streamed down my body, washing away both the grime of the nightclub and Jake's lingering presence.

With a click, the bathroom door handle twisted.

"Who's there?" I quickly grabbed a towel nearby and wrapped it around myself.

"Who else could it be?" Jake said, a chuckle slipping from his lips. He stepped into the bathroom without the slightest hesitation.

At that moment, I suddenly remembered that the door lock had recorded his fingerprint. I hadn't gotten around to removing it yet.

"Get out! Can't you see I'm taking a shower?" I snapped.

Jake, however, didn't take me seriously. Just as he raised an eyebrow, I noticed that my progress bar had ticked up by 1%.

"And why can't I look at you? Weren't you quite enthusiastic before?" He stepped closer, his gaze landing on my bare shoulder. "I haven't seen you in days, Emma-Bear. Are you sure you can resist me?"

Whenever situations like this came up, I would usually swallow my anger and follow Jake's lead. After all, I couldn't afford to see my scores drop.

But now, things were different. I no longer cared whether his affection level for me was high or low. All that mattered was that it kept fluctuating.

Without warning, I grabbed the showerhead and aimed it right at Jake. Water splashed across him, leaving his carefully styled hair drenched.

"Get out!" I repeated.

Jake wiped the water from his face. When he looked up, impatience shone in his eyes. "Damn it, Emma! You know I don't like this whole 'playing hard to get' routine. We'll have a proper conversation once you start behaving."

Without uttering a single word, I stared at him, my expression growing colder.

Jake's brows furrowed, but after a moment, a confident smile spread across his face. As he flicked his fingers in the air, my progress fell by 10%.

In the past, a decline this significant would have thrown me into a panic. I would have compromised my own boundaries just to win him back.

Jake's smile remained fixed on his face. Out of nowhere, he placed a gift box on the sink. "I bought this for you. After your shower, put it on and let me have a look."

He swung the door open and walked out confidently. Once he was gone, I went to the box and opened it. It contained a set of alluring lingerie and black stockings.

It was obvious that Jake had come to test the results of his so-called "training".

As I picked up the sheer black fabric, a wave of disgust stirred within me.

Spinning on my heel, I reached for a turtleneck sweater and a pair of jeans from the back of the wardrobe. At the same time, I grabbed the black-rimmed glasses Jake despised most.

After wrapping myself from head to toe, I pushed open the bedroom door.

Jake was leaning against the windowsill, a lighter perched between his fingers. The tiny flame wavered and flickered in his grasp.

The instant he noticed my attire, he abruptly extinguished the lighter.

"What game are you trying to play now?" Veins bulged along his neck as he stared at my fully covered figure. "Where's the lingerie I gave you?"